Objective: To assess the diagnostic quality of low dose (100kV) CT angiography (CTA), by using ultra-low contrast medium volume (30ml), for thoracic and abdominal aorta evaluation. Methods: 67 patients with thoracic or abdominal vascular disease underwent multidetector CT study using a 256 slice scanner, with low dose radiation protocol (automated tube current modulation, 100kV) and low contrast medium volume (30 ml; 4ml s<sup>-1</sup>). Density measurements were performed on ascending, arch, descending thoracic aorta, anonymous branch, abdominal aorta, and renal and common iliac arteries. Radiation dose exposure [dose-length product (DLP)] was calculated. A control group of 35 patients with thoracic or abdominal vascular disease were evaluated with standard CTA protocol (automated tube current modulation, 120 kV; contrast medium, 80ml). Results: In all patients, we correctly visualized and evaluated main branches of the thoracic and abdominal aorta. No difference in density measurements was achieved between low tube voltage protocol (mean attenuation value of thoracic aorta, 304HU; abdominal, 343 HU; renal arteries, 331HU) and control group (mean attenuation value of thoracic aorta, 320HU; abdominal, 339; renal arteries, 303 HU). Radiation dose exposure in low tube voltage protocol was significantly different between thoracic and abdominal low tube voltage studies (490 and 324DLP, respectively) and the control group (thoracic DLP, 1032; abdomen, DLP 1078). Conclusion: Low-tube-voltage protocol may provide a diagnostic performance comparable with that of the standard protocol, decreasing radiation dose exposure and contrast material volume amount. Advances in knowledge: Low-tube-voltage-setting protocol combined with ultra-low contrast agent volume (30 ml), by using new multidetector-row CT scanners, represents a feasible diagnostic tool to significantly reduce the radiation dose delivered to patients and to preserve renal function, while also maintaining adequate diagnostic quality images in assessment of aorta.

Ippolito, D., TALEI FRANZESI, C., Fior, D., Bonaffini, P., Minutolo, O., Sironi, S. (2015). Low kV settings CT angiography (CTA) with low dose contrast medium volume protocol in the assessment of thoracic and abdominal aorta disease: A feasibility study. BRITISH JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGY, 88(1049) [10.1259/bjr.20140140].

Low kV settings CT angiography (CTA) with low dose contrast medium volume protocol in the assessment of thoracic and abdominal aorta disease: A feasibility study

IPPOLITO, DAVIDE
Primo
;
TALEI FRANZESI, CAMMILLO ROBERTO GIOVANNI LEOPOLDO
Secondo
;
FIOR, DAVIDE;BONAFFINI, PIETRO ANDREA;MINUTOLO, ORAZIO
Penultimo
;
SIRONI, SANDRO
Ultimo
2015

Abstract

Objective: To assess the diagnostic quality of low dose (100kV) CT angiography (CTA), by using ultra-low contrast medium volume (30ml), for thoracic and abdominal aorta evaluation. Methods: 67 patients with thoracic or abdominal vascular disease underwent multidetector CT study using a 256 slice scanner, with low dose radiation protocol (automated tube current modulation, 100kV) and low contrast medium volume (30 ml; 4ml s-1). Density measurements were performed on ascending, arch, descending thoracic aorta, anonymous branch, abdominal aorta, and renal and common iliac arteries. Radiation dose exposure [dose-length product (DLP)] was calculated. A control group of 35 patients with thoracic or abdominal vascular disease were evaluated with standard CTA protocol (automated tube current modulation, 120 kV; contrast medium, 80ml). Results: In all patients, we correctly visualized and evaluated main branches of the thoracic and abdominal aorta. No difference in density measurements was achieved between low tube voltage protocol (mean attenuation value of thoracic aorta, 304HU; abdominal, 343 HU; renal arteries, 331HU) and control group (mean attenuation value of thoracic aorta, 320HU; abdominal, 339; renal arteries, 303 HU). Radiation dose exposure in low tube voltage protocol was significantly different between thoracic and abdominal low tube voltage studies (490 and 324DLP, respectively) and the control group (thoracic DLP, 1032; abdomen, DLP 1078). Conclusion: Low-tube-voltage protocol may provide a diagnostic performance comparable with that of the standard protocol, decreasing radiation dose exposure and contrast material volume amount. Advances in knowledge: Low-tube-voltage-setting protocol combined with ultra-low contrast agent volume (30 ml), by using new multidetector-row CT scanners, represents a feasible diagnostic tool to significantly reduce the radiation dose delivered to patients and to preserve renal function, while also maintaining adequate diagnostic quality images in assessment of aorta.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Angiography; Aortic Diseases; Cardiac-Gated Imaging Techniques; Contrast Media; Feasibility Studies; Female; Humans; Iohexol; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Radiation Dosage; Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; Thoracic Diseases; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Vascular Diseases; Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging; Medicine (all)
English
2015
88
1049
20140140
reserved
Ippolito, D., TALEI FRANZESI, C., Fior, D., Bonaffini, P., Minutolo, O., Sironi, S. (2015). Low kV settings CT angiography (CTA) with low dose contrast medium volume protocol in the assessment of thoracic and abdominal aorta disease: A feasibility study. BRITISH JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGY, 88(1049) [10.1259/bjr.20140140].
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
bjr.20140140.pdf

Solo gestori archivio

Tipologia di allegato: Publisher’s Version (Version of Record, VoR)
Dimensione 768.04 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
768.04 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/130998
Citazioni
  • Scopus 63
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 52
Social impact